The Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP) is Auckland Transport’s plan for public transport across the city. AT have released their new draft which outlines how public transport will be managed over the next 8 years. Priority for 2023-2024 is to address the urgent concerns around reliability and recovering patronage levels, with 2025-2027 seeing new services emerge.
It’s the first time that we get to see the changes that we can expect from the opening of the CRL (due 2026) and Eastern Busway (due 2027). A number of bus services are being routed through the new busway which should help provide better connections and more reliable timekeeping. It’s great to see the return of the Half Moon Bay to Middlemore direct bus service – we’ve had plenty of feedback from locals who work at the hospital who miss this option. And more buses for Flat Bush and Ormiston, providing more transport options for the growing population here.
I’ve captured the key changes for East Auckland below, but highly recommend you check out the draft plan for yourself. There’s an interactive map that you can use to see where the new/changes services will run: https://platform.remix.com/project/58442957?latlng=-36.86435,174.72773,9.646
Auckland Transport are hosting an online discussion on Monday 14 August 7-8:30pm where you can ask questions and discuss the proposal in more detail.
Find more information and provide feedback: at.govt.nz/RPTP
Public consultation is open until Thursday 17 August.
The Howick Local Board will be provided a summary of the feedback from locals and across the city before we provide our formal input in September/October.
From 2025:
NEW 37 Highbrook to Manurewa new service, will be extended to Burswood in 2027
EXTRA 31 Botany to Māngere extra evening trips
EXTRA 35 Botany to Manukau extra evening trips
ROUTE CHANGED 352 Panmure to Manukau route changed via Accent Dr / Chapel Road
From 2026:
EXTRA Half Moon Bay Ferry additional peak and weekend trips (from 2026)
From 2027:
EXTRA 70 Botany to Britomart additional evening trips via new Eastern Busway
EXTRA 72M Botany to Britomart upgraded to frequent service under new 72 name (from at least every 30mins to every 15 mins)
ROUTE CHANGED 72X Botany to Britomart shortened to Howick to Britomart, new service 705
ROUTE CHANGED + EXTRA 31 Botany to Māngere changed to Ormiston to Māngere plus additional evening trips
ROUTE CHANGED 353 Botany to Manukau changed to go via Burswood via new Eastern Busway
EXTRA 711 Howick to Panmure upgraded to connector (at least every half hour, up from hourly)
EXTRA 712 Bucklands Beach to Panmure additional peak and evening trips
NEW AIR Airport to Botany extended to Botany providing direct access to/from Airport
NEW 354 Half Moon Bay to Middlemore new route via Botany, Smales Road and Ōtara (combines 314 and 734) connector (at least every 30 mins)
NEW 356 Half Moon Bay to Ormiston new route via Cockle Bay, Meadowlands, Botany, Kilkenny and Mission Heights (combines 735 and half of 355) connector (at least every 30 mins)
NEW 357 Ormiston to Manukau new route via Redoubt Rd (replaces half of 355) connector (at least every 30 mins)
NEW 705 Howick to Panmure via Meadowlands (at least every 30 mins at peak)
NEW 706 Ormiston to Panmure via Murphys Rd, Chapel Rd and Eastern Busway (at least every 30 mins at peak)
REMOVED 72C Botany to Panmure replaced with 72 Botany to Britomart
REMOVED 355 Botany to Manukau replaced with 356 Half Moon Bay to Ormiston and 357 Ormiston to Manukau
REMOVED 734 Half Moon Bay to Botany replaced with 354 Half Moon Bay to Middlemore
REMOVED 735 Half Moon Bay to Botany replaced with 356 Half Moon Bay to Ormiston